Aston Villa Recruitment Plan 2022-2023

Team & League Similarity Analysis
Team & League Style Modelling
Producing a recruitment plan, especially a data driven one such as
this one, modelling Aston Villa’s playing style by using a huge
variety of metrics is a key component in being able to filter the
database and look at alternative options that may be otherwise
discounted in a standard recruitment process. In the following
slide this will become clearer after being detailed in 4 graphs
comparing Villa’s playing style with that of the teams in the
leagues of potential transfer targets.
Similarity Model Results
After running the model, the results give Empoli in Serie A as the most
similar team in playing style to Aston Villa which is interesting as both
teams possess the following playing style similarities;
• A preference for attacking down their left-hand side of the pitch.
• Play a high defensive line and utilize the offside trap.
• Play a high percentage of their overall possession chains within their
own half of the pitch.
• Play with a great deal of width in their set up.
• Both teams play in a variation of a 4-4-2 system.
Top 3 teams similar to Aston Villa
• Empoli
• Clermont Foot
• Wolverhampton Wanderers
Top 3 leagues similar the EPL
• Ligue 1
• Super Lig (Turkey)
• La Liga
Primary Markets Focus
• Ligue 1
• La Liga
• Premier League
The model also tells us from the 3 teams listed in the table from Ligue 1,
with just over 87% similarity, that the French top tier is the most similar
league, but not limited to, the Premier League with the parameters given.
This aids the recruitment process as players may be more adaptable to
the Premier League from Ligue 1.
Note: This does not mean the process is limited to just the parameters listed above it
is just one of many tools used in this analysis.